News Briefs - May 30
The Latest Headlines:
- Canadian Truckers Hurt by Mad Cow Scare
- Automakers Preparing for Potential Car-Hauler Strike
- Manufacturers Expressing Optimism, Journal Says
- Postmaster Wants Freedom to Set Prices
- Personal Spending Declines 0.1% in April
- Intermodal Rail Totals Up in Latest Week
- Automakers Preparing for Potential Car-Hauler Strike
Canadian Truckers Hurt by Mad Cow Scare
Canadian truckers are among the workers who have been affected by the U.S. ban on Canadian beef and cattle following the discovery of mad cow disease, the Edmonton Journal reported Friday.Roberge Brothers Trucking, one of the largest cattle haulers in Western Canada, has laid off 27 contract truckers, the article said. The truckers still working for the company are mostly hauling cattle to pastures, but business has been cut significantly.
Spokesman Roger Roberge told the paper that if the ban was not lifted in a month, the company would be forced to lay off 100 truckers.
Automakers Preparing for Potential Car-Hauler Strike
Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG and other automakers are seeking alternatives for getting new vehicles to dealers because of the threat of a strike against companies that haul about 80% of the vehicles, Bloomberg reported Friday.The current contract between the Teamsters union and 15 companies expires Saturday night, and union President James Hoffa told about 9,000 drivers to prepare for a strike, Bloomberg said.
These companies haul vehicles directly from auto plants to dealers or from intermediate locations such as railroad yards and ports.
The Teamsters said on its Web site that the largest company involved, Allied Holdings Inc., was asking for a two-year wage freeze, higher benefit contributions and no cost-of-living adjustments. Transport Topics
(Click here for previous coverage.)
Manufacturers Expressing Optimism, Journal Says
Two surveys conducted by manufacturing groups found that the industry is beginning to feel cautiously optimistic that orders could begin to pick up, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.The manufacturing sector is one of trucking's largest and most important customers.
The National Association of Manufacturers found in an informal e-mail survey of some members that 40% saw an increase in May orders from the preceding month, and 43% are expecting orders in June to rise over May's levels.
In a separate survey, Manufacturers Alliance, a public-policy and business-research group, said about 60 of its members also showed orders up from a year ago. Transport Topics
Postmaster Wants Freedom to Set Prices
Postmaster General John Potter told the President's Commission on the Postal Service on Thursday that if the U.S. Postal Service is to be run like a business, it needs the freedom to set its own prices, the Associated Press reported.Potter suggested that the Postal Service's governing board be allowed to set prices for mail service, with an after-the-fact review by an outside agency, according to AP. He said the current process stifles their ability to compete in the marketplace by offering volume discounts, making rapid price changes where necessary and offering new services.
His comments came at the final public session of the commission, convened by President Bush to review the operations of the Postal Service and make recommendations for its future. Its report is expected by the end of July.
Potter also discussed a number of ways the Postal Service could cut costs including reducing the number of days mail is delivered and relaxing on-time delivery standards, AP said. Transport Topics
Personal Spending Declines 0.1% in April
U.S. personal spending in April fell 0.1% to $7.55 trillion at an annual rate as higher unemployment limited purchases and fewer hours worked restrained incomes, the Commerce Department said Friday.This followed a 0.8% rise in March that was double the previous estimate. Commerce also said incomes were little changed in April at $9.163 trillion in April, after $9.159 trillion a month earlier.
Economists forecast a 0.1% rise in April personal spending, Bloomberg said.
Because the Easter holiday can fall in March or April, economists typically look at an average of consumer spending for both months, Bloomberg said. Spending averaged 0.4% for the two months. Transport Topics
Intermodal Rail Totals Up in Latest Week
Intermodal loadings on the nation's railroads were up 4.7% in the week ended May 24 from the corresponding week in 2002, the Association of American Railroads reported late Thursday.Intermodal is the segment of the railroad business most directly competitive with long-haul trucking.
Trailers and containers loaded during the week totaled 190,749. For the first 20 weeks of the year, loadings totaled about 3.9 million, which was 7.2% above last year's pace. Transport Topics
